Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-09-03
AMONG THE MEXICANS.
A FEW SPECIMEN OF JUDICIAL
INCLEMENCY.
Raise the Wind" by Kidnap-
ing Wealthy People.

ton, in the State of Leon, of the Mexican
who murdered his sweetheart in a fit OF
Jealousy, Texas paper says; " Nothing in
the history OF crime has created such E
sensation on the border as the legal g? }
execution of man who had never been
tried before any Court, his death-warrant
having been telegraphed from the judicial
authorities at Guerrero, who themselves
had no further knowledge of his crime than
was contained in the telegraphic CORE
spondence."
One may reasonably conclude that any
thing in the line of high-handcd Justice
which can shock our friends of the Texan
borders-who have ways OF tdeir own,
sometimes, for dealing with horse-thieves,
ct al, without Judge or jury-must indeed
be extraordinary. But the little affair re-
ferred to Is nothing uncommon for Mexico.
We might cite numerous instances within
our knowledge where death had been
melted out as punishment for an alleged
offense, and the victim, innocent or guilty,
hurried into eternity with no opportunity
for defense.
\ similar case * that of those three
army officers, Colonel Arvizu and Lieuten-
ants Gutierrez and Reveon, who, last spring,
were hastily tried by Court-martial and
almost Immediately executed, for attempt
ing to rescue a Mexican prisoner from an
American officer on the United States side
of the line. Some of the border journals.
hnSi ~ 10
action of the Court-martial, asserted that
their countrymen We're delighted" with
this
EXHIBITION OF MEXICAN JUSTICE,
But | doubt if many reputable Americans
could be found to agree with them. Col.
Aryizu was whole-souled, well-educated
fellow, in the prime of life, who had been a
prominent figure in political and military
circles of Northern Mexico, but was some
what inclined to dissipation. The latter
fault, however, is not entirely unknown in
the army on either side of the Rio Grande,
and If death were the universal punish
ment for errors resulting therefrom / am
afraid the roll-call would be considerably
shortened. The Lieutenants were Young
men, and all three left families in desti-
tute circumstances.
\ gentleman who witnessed their exc
cution, which occurred in Guavmas on
May 9th, tells me that barely time enough
was allowed them to write to their friends
certainly none for farewells 10 their far
away wives and children At daybreak
| they were marched out of prison and
| placed with their backs against the old
! adobe wall, meeting their fate as uncon-
cernedly as MeXicans always face death.
Resolutely refusing to be blindtolded, they
gazed with calmness into the row of rife
barrels leveled at their breasts upon which
the first rays of the sun were shining
word, volley and all was over for them.
| But not for others. Aside from the three
mothers, three wives and three broods oi
destitute little ones, and the many rela
tives and friends of the executed officers
these things help to intensity the national
hatred of Americans which, heaven knows
is bitter enough already, especially in the
| border States.
Then there was the case of General Gar
cia de Ia Cadena, political leader of Ia
catecas, whom the Government found ex-
ceedingly Objectionable, because hard to
deal with when the rights of his nation
were invaded. According to the Mexican
Constitution, You know, the respective
States have Il right TO chose their owr
Governor, but more frequently the Presi
dent selects and installs one to suit hi.
own private schemes, quite regardless o.
the wishes Of the people. To all such UNI
constitutional acts of oppression General
Cadena was in the habit of objecting, anC
many times had been concerned in revolu
tions to sustain the rights of the Zacateca
noes. But he revolted
ONE TINE TOO MANY,
And being captured by Government troop,
a few months ago, was shot after Il hasty
military trial. Since his taking-off the
administration has found smooth sailing il
| Zacatecas, and the President foresaw that
nothing short of bullet through the heart
could keep the old hero quiet if the I'M
constitutional third term project succeed,
in 1888.
Cadena was one Of the strongest anc
most influential men in his State, brave a.
a lion, and with ample wealth to back his
undertakings 1t is stated by his ole
friends aud neighbors, who certainly
ought to know, that no less than twenty.
eight members of the Cadena family have
persisted by the red hand of assassination
and the Generals own demise is considered
little less, though conducted under the
guse of military law, in time of peace.
! remember a great excitement in Zaca-
tecas, nearly five years ago, during my first
visit there, when an attempt was made tc
murder him, as usual, by unknown parties
At that time Cadena's attitude against
the Gonzalez administration was ex.
tremely belligerent, and consequently hi
| life was not worth Il f;lrthing. He resided
two or three miles out of the city of Zaca-
tecas and one afternoon, rs his carriage
was coming to town, it was waylaid by
eight masked men, who sprang up from the
chaparral and began shooting into the
coach. Fortunately for the General, il
happened that being slightly indisposed
he had remained at home that day. and
| the carriage was occupied only by his wife
| daughter and nephew. The coachman and
nephew were instantly killed, one of the
bullets grazing the daughters forehead
| The horses were then cut loose, and the
| frightened women left to make their way
home as best they could. As this was con
sidered merely political disturbance
nothing was done about it, and no attempt
was made to bring the perpetrators to
justice. Concerning the pleasant possibili-
! ties of this uncertain country many
BLooD-CURDLISG TALES
Are told of occurrences in the past, which
might easily be repeated in the present,
were there sufficient incentive. / am
aware that to mention these things is to
bring ones self into deep disfavor, not only
with the Mexicans, but more particularly
with certain Americans in business here
who endeavor to make it so warm" for
the out-spokeu journalist that he or she
finds it safer 10 journey northward with
expedition but since my informants were
an American editor in the City of Mexico
Whose name l viii willingly disclose),
and several Mexicans to the manor born,
perhaps the recital of one or two of these
historic happenings may be excused
A few years ago 4 great deal of kidnap-
ing was carried on in Mexico, money being
generally the object. Anybody of wealth
and influence was liable to be seized in an
unguarded moment and spirited away
and seldom indeed, were the victims even
heard of again unless their friends "came
down" most handsomely. The Inodus OPP
erandi, after man had been secured and
hidden, was to post notices here and there
| within sight of his family-sometimes